Chapter 56 – Never Seen, Uncertain

Cheng Yishu was known for his many talents, his aloof nature, his slow warmth towards strangers—everyone was aware of these things. And everyone knew that to be a proper fan, not only should you never spend money on gifts for him, but you must never interfere with his work or disrupt public order.

So when Cheng Yishu emerged, flanked by staff and several security guards, apart from the fans’ breathless, excited murmurs, there was no unruly behavior at all.

“Yishu, could you sign something for us…”

“Brother Yishu, could you stay just a moment longer?”

A few braver girls, voices trembling, asked in hushed tones.

“Sorry, Yishu has work to get to… Maybe next time… Please make way…”

Chen Kai stepped in as an impromptu bodyguard, shielding Cheng Yishu behind him. All the while, Cheng Yishu kept his head lowered, raising a hand to block the sudden flashes of cameras.

“Please, no photos right now, okay?” Da Lingzi called out, positioning herself between the cameras and Cheng Yishu, her tone apologetic as she explained further.

“Brother Cheng is about to start work. How about autographs next time? Sorry, see you inside the venue later…”

“Brother Yishu… This is for you!”

A soft, sweet child’s voice pierced the crowd, and Cheng Yishu instinctively stopped, his eyes drawn to its source.

At the front of the crowd, a little girl of about seven or eight clutched a greeting card in one hand and held a woman’s hand with the other, gazing up at Cheng Yishu with hopeful eyes.

“Brother Yishu, I made this myself—it’s for you!”

The girl looked a bit taller and chubbier than Ranran, her face adorably round and plump. She wore her hair in a princess style and a white, puffy dress, looking every inch the little princess—though, admittedly, not quite as cute as Ranran.

Cheng Yishu accepted the pink card with a slight smile.

“Thank you,” he said.

Amid everyone’s stunned and envious gasps and groans, he ducked into the car.

The ride was smooth and the journey long enough that Cheng Yishu soon found himself drifting off to sleep.

From the front passenger seat, Chen Kai glanced back. Seeing Cheng Yishu sleeping soundly, he turned to Da Lingzi, who sat beside Cheng Yishu. Raising his brows and lowering his voice, he murmured,

“I told you—there’s definitely something up with him!”

This time, Da Lingzi didn’t try to defend her belief. She now felt that Brother Cheng’s change was for the better.

She studied the sleeping Cheng Yishu as if seeing a stranger, then nodded solemnly at Chen Kai.

In the dressing room, Cheng Yishu snacked on some fruit during a break, mumbling a complaint to Da Lingzi.

“What sort of oranges are these? They’re so sour… Don’t buy from this place again.”

Da Lingzi was packing up Cheng Yishu’s clothes in a small suitcase. At his words, she paused, then looked at him in the mirror, protesting hesitantly.

“Brother Cheng, last time you said you liked these oranges—they’re tart and whet your appetite, plus high in vitamin C… Besides, you don’t like sweet things, remember?”

Cheng Yishu paused, blinked at her reflection, and said, uncertainly,

“Is that so? Did I really say that? Well, then, I apologize.”

Da Lingzi stared, mouth open for a long moment before letting out a dry laugh.

“Brother Cheng, you’ve really changed lately. Not only forgetful, but also much easier to talk to. If this were before, you’d definitely have…”

“Have what?” Cheng Yishu was in an unusually good mood. He set down his fruit fork, took a sip of water, and continued watching Da Lingzi.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Don’t tell me you’ve only just realized after all this time how handsome I am.”

The folding hanger in Da Lingzi’s hand slipped and landed on her foot, making her jump from the sudden pain.

Strange—truly strange! For Cheng Yishu to speak more than a few words without his usual cold demeanor was rare enough. Now, he was even cracking jokes and apologizing…

Brother Kai was right—something was up!

That evening’s event was for a high-end skincare brand, where Cheng Yishu stood in as a “brand friend.” The stylist had chosen a look that accentuated golden tones: a custom-tailored suit subtly threaded with gold, crisp white handmade shoes, and a damp-styled haircut.

His makeup was tastefully refined, with earth-toned eyeshadow enhancing his features and lending him an air of both coolness and sophistication.

The crowd of fans was as dense as ever, the venue buzzing with the effort to keep order.

But the public was well aware of Cheng Yishu’s “cool guy” persona and image, and didn’t mind his distant expression. In truth, he only needed to stand there where everyone could see him, and the crowd was content.

The host was skilled enough that, despite Cheng Yishu’s notorious brevity, the atmosphere never grew cold.

This allowed Cheng Yishu to relax a little—so long as no one felt awkward and the event went smoothly, that was all that mattered.

As for the outcome, it was none of his concern.

“So, Yishu, what’s your usual skincare routine? Have you consulted any professionals in the field?” The elegant and charming female host beamed as she posed the question to Cheng Yishu. He lifted the microphone with his usual composure, but inwardly, he felt a flicker of anxiety.

“Uh… I don’t have a skincare routine.”

The bluntness of his reply left the host momentarily stunned.

She had expected him to say a bit more, but he simply set down the mic and faced the audience with perfect composure.

“Ah… I see!” The host quickly picked up the thread with a nervous laugh.

“Well, with such beautiful skin, it must be all down to genetics! Tell us, which of your parents blessed you with those striking features and flawless complexion that so many fans adore?”

After her question, a hush fell over the audience.

Everyone stared up at the stage in silence; some fans even muttered under their breath,

“Where did they find this host? Didn’t she do any research?”

“Exactly… Brother Yishu must be angry now…”

“Please, don’t lose your temper, Brother Yishu… Hold it in, just hold it in!”

Some more sensible fans began to silently pray that Cheng Yishu wouldn’t lose his cool and give anyone a reason to criticize him.

Chen Kai, who should have been the most anxious, stood calmly to one side, watching with a cold detachment. Even as Da Lingzi broke out in a cold sweat, Chen Kai remained unmoved.

“This kid’s always surprising me,” he thought. “Let’s see how he handles this—has he really matured, or is he still ruled by his own so-called bottom line…”

The audience’s silence felt unnatural. As the host, she realized she must have asked the wrong question, or…

Just as she was about to change the subject, Cheng Yishu brought the microphone to his lips.

“I suppose I take after my mother. She has very good skin. And I’ve never met my father, so I wouldn’t know…”